Opposition politician Can Atalay, of the Workers’ Party of Turkey, was jailed for 18 years after allegations he tried to overthrow the government by organising nationwide protests in 2013.
A fistfight broke out in Turkey’s parliament on Friday when an opposition deputy was attacked after calling for his jailed colleague to be freed.
The country’s MPs came together in an extraordinary meeting to discuss jailed opposition politician Can Atalay and his return to the chamber.
However, during the session, as the Workers’ Party of Turkey (TIP) politician Ahmet Sik was speaking, another MP, from the ruling AK party, Alpay Ozalan, confronted him at the speaker’s podium.
Video footage showed MPs for the ruling AK party rushing forward as one punched Mr Sik, and dozens more joined the melee, some trying to hold people back.
Blood was seen on the white steps of the speaker’s podium.
Several other politicians vacated their seats and rushed forward and a couple of MPs could be spotted filming the row as more people got involved.
“We’re not surprised that you call Can Atalay a terrorist, just as you do everyone who does not side with you,” Mr Sik told AK lawmakers in a speech.
“But the biggest terrorists are the ones sitting in these seats,” he added.
The deputy parliament speaker declared a 45-minute recess after the punch-up.
The TIP also called for Mr Atalay’s release from prison.
Earlier this year, following months of legal and political turmoil that saw Turkey’s two highest courts clash, a decision by the Court of Appeals to strip lawyer and human rights activist Mr Atalay of his seat was read in parliament.
As the decision to strip Mr Atalay of his parliamentary seat was read out in January, by deputy speaker Bekir Bozdag, opposition lawmakers rushed the podium.
Some booed and held up signs reading “Freedom to Can Atalay”, while one threw a copy of the Turkish constitution at Mr Bozdag.
In August, following contrasting rulings from different courts over his conviction, the Constitutional Court came down in Mr Atalay’s favour over the decision to strip him of his parliamentary status, saying it was “null and void”.
Opposition parties then demanded a special session to discuss the outcome of the case.
